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=== ''Reconquista'' ===
=== ''Reconquista'' ===
(711-1492)
(897-1492)


Many of the Islamic-styled architecture constructed by Arabic rulers became denatured under Christian rule. <ref name=":5" />
Many of the Islamic-styled architecture constructed by Arabic rulers became denatured under Christian rule. <ref name=":5" />
Line 33: Line 33:
=== Post ''Reconquista'' ===
=== Post ''Reconquista'' ===
(1492--)
(1492--)

In the years following the Christian reconquest of Spain, the [[Alhambra]] underwent many changes in European styles and faced some neglect.<ref name=":5" /> Since 1828, there has been a consistent effort to restore and conserve Islamic structures like the Alhambra in Spain.<ref name=":5" />


== Common Features ==
== Common Features ==

Revision as of 04:27, 29 April 2022

A view of the Patio de las doncellas, a ṣaḥn within the Alcázar of Seville.

An alcázar is a type of Islamic castle or palace located in the Iberian Peninsula built during Muslim rule between the 8th and 15th centuries.They functioned as homes and regional capitals for governmental figures throughout Umayyad rule and later for Christian rulers following the Spanish Reconquista. The term alcázar is also used for many medieval castles built by Christians on early Roman, Visigothic or Islamic fortifications and is frequently used as a synonym for castillo or castle.

Terminology

The Spanish word alcázar (pronounced [alˈkaθaɾ]) derives from the Arabic word القصر al-qaṣr "the fort, castle, or palace"., which in turn derives from the latin word Castrum ("fortress", "military camp").

Similar words exist in Galician (alcázar, pronounced [alˈkaθɐɾ]), Portuguese (alcácer, pronounced [ɐɫˈkasɛɾ]), and Catalan (alcàsser, pronounced [əlˈkasəɾ]).

Spain also has Muslim citadels known as alcazabas (القصبة al-qasbah). However, not all castles in Spain are called alcázar: the majority are called castillo in Spanish or castell in Catalan.[1] Nor was every alcázar or alcazaba in Iberia built by the Muslims: many castles with these names were built after the Islamic caliphate was expelled from the Iberian Peninsula. Following the Spanish Reconquista, non-Muslim Spanish patrons built or refurbished palaces to resemble the Islamic style, known as Mudéjar.[2]

Often, alcázars are described as "Moorish," a term used by Europeans to refer to followers of the Islamic faith. While "Moors" has been used for centuries to reference Spanish Muslims, today however, the discussion of "Moorishness" must be approached with care. The term has been radicalized historically in Spain, its usage being an attempt to other and exoticize the Muslim population.[3] Modern language utilizes the terms Islamic, Muslim, and Andalusi instead of Moorish, but it is worth clarifying the historical context.

History

Court of the Lions in the heart of the Alhambra, at night.

Alcázars were owned by Islamic, and later, Christian rulers of al-Andalus, the buildings symbolized the ruler's power and wealth over the region. Over time, the different cultural influences of the buildings merged, marking the Alcázar as a transmission between high Islamic culture, Western Christendom and Jewry.[4]

Origin

Alcázars first became constructed under Umayyad Dynasty. It was after conquering the Visigothic Kingdom when the Umayyads began expanding on their current architecture to create a sophisticated Islamic empire.[4]After the 717 conquest, Umayyad caliphs established their capital in Córdoba, Spain, transforming the former Visigoth palace into the Alcázar of the Caliphs.[5]

Umayyad Dynasty

(711-1010)

  • Madinat al-Zahra was designed by Umayyad caliph Abd ar-Rahman III and constructed with supervision from his son, al-Hakam.[6] It was the first Umayyad palace-city located in Spain following the dynasty's flee from the Abbasids in Iraq. Founded in 936 CE, the palace-city rivaled its counterparts to the South in Baghdad.[7]

Reconquista

(897-1492)

Many of the Islamic-styled architecture constructed by Arabic rulers became denatured under Christian rule. [8]

Nasrid Dynasty

(1232-1492)

Post Reconquista

(1492--)

In the years following the Christian reconquest of Spain, the Alhambra underwent many changes in European styles and faced some neglect.[8] Since 1828, there has been a consistent effort to restore and conserve Islamic structures like the Alhambra in Spain.[8]

Common Features

The construction that defines Alcázars is the distinctive Iberian practices that can be found in the architectural design.[9] This technique is coined as being Mudéjar in style due to the presence of Morisco and Mudéjar craftsmen throughout both Muslim and Christian rule that had largely contributed, and had a lasting influence in the construction of buildings.[10] Features of the Alcázars reflected Arabic influence with their geometric design and the inward-looking style emphasizing seclusion and privacy for the occupant.[8] Alcázars of the Iberian Peninsula usually consisted of a complex system of buildings with multiple palaces, halls, and courtyards, all serving a specific function. [11]

Ground floor plan of the Royal Alcázar of Madrid

Gardens

Garden of The King's Alcazar in Cordoba

Gardens played a vital role in the settlement of Islamic Spain, providing a space of relaxation, economic benefits, and the illusion of paradise to its beholder[12]. Alcázar courtyards housed some of the most grandiose gardens in the region, reflecting the wealth of its ruler. The influence of the gardens can be see today as some gardens still remain, having been preserved and admired by the Christian rulers post-Muslim rule.[9]

Inner courtyard gardens was the most common approach of horticulture in the Alcázars. Gardens would be placed into a system of interconnected courtyards where the buildings completely enclosed the space. [12] The gardens were kept from outside view, following Islamic architectural practices of an inward, plain interior that disguised decorated, private areas; only those fortunate enough could witness the courtyards.[9]

Basic components of the Alcázar gardens included: a raised grid formation, an irrigation system with a collecting pool as its distribution point, and formal walkways and pavement. Continued influence of Islamic techniques can be seen in the composition of the gardens, being geometric, symmetrical, and sometimes having a quadripartite arrangement.[12] A range of shrubs, trees, vegetables and flowers were grown in these gardens. The fruits could be cultivated and marketable while also supplying the garden with a pleasant fragrance and aesthetic beauty. The fruit trees in the gardens of the Alcázar of Seville are reported to have introduced 'exotic' fruits to Europe such as lemons, oranges, apricots, and peaches. [12]

Garden from the Alcázar of Segovia
Water system of The King's Alcazar, the lower pools and irrigation channel are pictured
The irrigation system of the Alhambra; source of spring water used on the gardens

Water system

Constant irrigation was necessary to maintain the lush flora of the gardens. Intricate Arabic irrigation designs were incorporated into the courtyards of the Alcázars by Muslim rulers to serve multiple purposes. The systems supplied the gardens with a constant flow of fresh water, aesthetically refreshed the space, and had a cooling effect on the courtyard and surrounding buildings.[8]Each irrigation system of the Alcázars had unique elements, defining the individuality of the location. These techniques ranged from still pools, flowing channels, and fountains, and were implemented to achieve a link from exterior to interior spaces.[12] Water created a sense of of peace and spiritual stability in the gardens.[8]

  • The Comares Palace of the Alhambra uses a large pool in the center of the courtyard as both a functioning irrigation system and an artistic spectacle.[12] Shrubbery has access to water by being flanked on the sides of the pool has access to water and the pool reflects the two porticoed sides of the surrounding buildings, providing an interesting illusion to the viewer.
  • The courtyards in the Alcázar of Seville features an irrigation tank with flower beds on each side, along with aqueducts dividing deeply sunken flower beds.[12] The flower beds are arranged in a geometric pattern with channels providing water to them from a central basin.

Inscriptions

In both Muslim-built and Judeo-Christian Mudéjar Spanish palaces inscriptions are prevalent in the palace design. One instance is the Alhambra in Granada where Arabic inscriptions are present throughout the palace walls. They include quotes from the Quran, excerpts from poems written by Ibn al-Khatīb and Ibn Zamrak, the Nasrid dynasty's motto and a recurring saying throughout, ولا غالب إلا الله or "there is no victor but God."

At the Alcázar of Seville, a mix of Arabic and Spanish inscriptions uplift the bilingual atmosphere of Mudéjar style Spanish architecture. The palaces's patron, Pedro I, was a Christian that embraced the Muslims' taste for beauty in the form of the Alcázar.

Extant Alcázars

  • Alcázar of Segovia was first cited in the 12th century, though its foundations date back to Roman times. It is a castle built by the Christian monarchs in the place of a Moorish fort. During the Middle Ages when in the Kingdom of Castile, the alcázar of Segovia was the favorite residence of the Castilian monarchs, and almost each king added new parts to the building, transforming the original fortress into a courtier residence and prolonging the construction of the castle until the 16th century, when king Philip II added the conical spires and the slate roofs. A fire in 1862 destroyed part of the roofs, but they were restored in the very same style in which they were built 300 years before. In this castle there was the proclamation of Isabella I as queen of Castile in 1474 starting the War of the Castilian Succession.
  • Alcázar of Toledo was used as a military academy in modern times. The Siege of the Alcázar in the Spanish Civil War references this castle, which was held by the Nationalist colonel José Moscardó Ituarte against Republican forces. Republican forces captured Moscardó's 24-year-old son Luis, and on 23 July 1936 informed Moscardó that if he did not turn over the alcázar within ten minutes his son would die. When Moscardó did not surrender, Luis was murdered, not immediately but one month later, on 23 August.
  • Alcázar of Seville, on the site of the palace of the Almohad Caliphate called al-Muwarak, was built in the 1360s by Christian Castilian craftsmen in Mudéjar style, and frequently remodeled. It was first used by Peter of Castile with his mistress María de Padilla. The structures and gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, also called "the Alcázar of Córdoba", in Córdoba, Andalusia, was a Moorish palace after the 13th century Reconquista of Córdoba. The Moors had expanded a Visigoth fortress into a large compound with gardens and a large library. This alcázar was the summer home of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, and the site of their meeting with Christopher Columbus before his famous voyage to the Americas.
  • Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera, was a fortified palace-city located in Southern Spain. Today, it is home to a public park.
  • Castle of Burgos, ruins of what was once an alcázar and a royal residence.
  • The Alhambra in Granada, a palace and complex fortress. It was the last Muslim stronghold in Al-Andalus before it functioned as a royal Christian palace following the Reconquista.[1]

Extinct Landmark Alcázars

  • The Alcázar of the Caliphs of Córdoba was the seat of the government of Al-Andalus, and the residence of the emirs and caliphs of Córdoba since the arrival of the Muslims in the 8th Century until the Christian conquest of the city, in 1236. It had a total area of 39,000 square metres (420,000 sq ft). Part of its structure survives.
  • The Royal Alcazar of Madrid was a palace built by Emperor Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, (rebuilt by his son, Philip II) and was the main royal residence in Madrid until the Buen Retiro Palace partly superseded it in the 17th century. It was destroyed by fire in 1734, and the present Royal Palace of Madrid was built on the site. This was called Palacio Nuevo and has never been called alcázar.
  • The Castle Alcázar of Segorbe, province of Castellón, autonomous community of Valencia, was an enormous complex that for over a thousand years was the residence of lords, dukes and kings.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Hillenbrand, Robert (1994). "The Palace". Edinburgh University Press. Islamic Architecture: Form, Function and Meaning: 446–457.
  2. ^ Ruggles, D. Fairchild (2004). "The Alcazar of Seville and Mudejar Architecture". Gesta. 2: 87–98.
  3. ^ Fuchs, Barbara (2009). Exotic Nation: Maurophilia and the Construction of Early Modern Spain. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 31–39.
  4. ^ a b Heather., Ecker, (2004). Caliphs and kings : the art and influence of Islamic Spain : selections from the Hispanic Society of America, New York. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. ISBN 0-295-98421-X. OCLC 123338252.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Arnold, Felix (2017-08-24). "Islamic Palace Architecture in the Western Mediterranean". Oxford Scholarship Online. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190624552.001.0001.
  6. ^ Ruggles, D. Fairchild (2000). The Literature of Al-Andalus. Cambridge University Press. pp. 25–29. ISBN 978-0521471596.
  7. ^ Capilla, Susan Calvo (2014). "The Reuse of Classical Antiquity in the Palace of Madinat al-Zahra and its Role in the Construction of Caliphal Legitimacy". Muqarnas. 31: 1–33.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Hillenbrand, Robert (1994). Islamic Architecture : Form, Function and Meaning. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-1-4744-6915-9. OCLC 1302166732.
  9. ^ a b c Fuchs, Barbara (2011). Exotic nation : Maurophilia and the construction of early modern Spain. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-2173-2. OCLC 751833756.
  10. ^ Catlos, Brian A. (2018). Kingdoms of faith : a new history of Islamic Spain. 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104: Basic Books. ISBN 978-1-78738-410-1. OCLC 1230970147.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  11. ^ F., Glick, Thomas (1995). From Muslim fortress to Christian castle : social and cultural change in medieval Spain. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-3348-9. OCLC 1024066138.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "Garden". Grove Art Online.


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